Siena College Poll Shows Cuomo Has Big Lead Over Astorino In Race For NY Governor

“Astorino has a huge gap to close, and it’s hard to beat a popular incumbent when you face a two-to-one party disadvantage and you are unknown to two-thirds of voters, including 70 percent of your own party,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg.

Astorino shrugged off his sagging poll numbers, citing last week’s congressional primary shocker in Virginia, in which Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost to little-known Tea Party challenger David Brat.

“It’s not the polls in June because you can see the Virginia race,” Astorino told reporters, including WCBS 880’s Paul Murnane. “It’s who comes out to vote and how we get them out to vote.

“There are five months till Election Day. No race is over in June. This is a snapshot of all registered voters, not just those likely to vote in November. All true. But true too are two other facts: Astorino has a huge gap to close, and it’s hard to beat a popular incumbent when you face a two-to-one party disadvantage and you are unknown to two-thirds of voters, including 70 percent of your own party,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg.

“While Cuomo leads among Democrats by 69 points, Astorino only leads among Republicans by 29 points. And Cuomo wins among independents by 31 points,” Greenberg said. “Additionally, his favorability, job performance and re-elect ratings are all the best they’ve been since January. Half of voters see Cuomo as a moderate and, by a two-to-one margin, voters see him as a pragmatic, rather than partisan, Democrat.”

“There are five months till Election Day. No race is over in June. This is a snapshot of all registered voters, not just those likely to vote in November. All true. But true too are two other facts: Astorino has a huge gap to close, and it’s hard to beat a popular incumbent when you face a two-to-one party disadvantage and you are unknown to two-thirds of voters, including 70 percent of your own party,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg.

“While Cuomo leads among Democrats by 69 points, Astorino only leads among Republicans by 29 points. And Cuomo wins among independents by 31 points,” Greenberg said. “Additionally, his favorability, job performance and re-elect ratings are all the best they’ve been since January. Half of voters see Cuomo as a moderate and, by a two-to-one margin, voters see him as a pragmatic, rather than partisan, Democrat.”

In the attorney general’s race, 41 percent said they would re-elect Democrat Eric Schneiderman. While 12 percent have a favorable opinion of Republican John Cahill, 78 percent have no opinion.

In the state comptroller’s race, 38 percent said they would re-elect Democrat Thomas DiNapoli. While 9 percent have a favorable opinion of Republican Robert Antonacci, the Onondaga County comptroller, 82 percent have no opinion.

Meanwhile on Monday, Astorino unveiled a 10-point ethics proposal, calling for term limits, a shorter legislative session and other changes that he says will help combat government corruption. Eight-year term limits for statewide elected leaders and legislators and a three-month legislative session would discourage the insider politics that has caused a “staggering” level of government corruption in Albany, he said.

Astorino’s plan also includes a new ethics commission to investigate complaints against lawmakers, and changes to legislative pensions and compensation. Astorino also wants stronger conflict-of-interest laws and says he would prohibit any state building or highway from being named for a sitting lawmaker.